Electric cigar lighter



Nov. 5, 1935.

l. FLORMAN 2,020,142

ELECTRIC CIGAR LIGHTER Filed May 22, 1 935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 5, 1935. l. FLORMAN ELECTRIC CIGAR LIGHTER Filed May 22, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 r m .w

. Patented Nov.. 5, 1935 UNITED STATES. PATENT oFFlcE ELEc'rmc clGAn LIGHTER. Irving mman, New york, N. Y. Application May z2, 1935, semi No. 22,sss'

' y s claim. (c1. irs-29s) duce an electric lighter of the type described in vwhich the resistance is shielded so as to prevent breakage of the resistance wire and to prevent undue cooling of the resistance wire by drafts. It is also possible by my invention to use thisshield to protect the flaming wick from drafts as Well as to protect the resistance wire.

Another object of my invention is to produce an electric lighter wherein the wick-carrying element can be entirely detached from the source of "current used to heat the resistance wire. More particularly my invention relates to a manner of combining in one independent unit thewick, the

reservoir for feeding the wick, and the resistance wire.

An additional object of my invention is to provide a readily replaceable resistance unit for electrical lighters of the type described.

Still another object is to provide a resistance wire which is capable of being heated to a strong heat and which is not corroded by the volatile liquids used to supply the wick.

Further, my invention is designed to produce a simple, inexpensive and efiicient lighter structure of the type described. To this end the batteries and connections used are made to effect the maximum economy of space and material.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the appended claims and the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a, lighter made according to my invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof, dotted lines indicating the active position of the torch unit.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the torch unit detached.

Fig. 4 is a vertical cross-section of the same.

Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of the torch unit.

Fig. 6 is. an enlarged section on line 6-6 of Fig. 3.

Fig. '7 is an enlarged perspective of the replaceable resistance unit.

Fig. 8 is a section on line 8-8 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 9 is a vertical section on line 9 9 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 10' is a section on line I U-III of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a plan view of'the insulating base, taken on line I I-I I of Fig. 9.

Fig. 12 is a section on line I2-I2 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 13 is a circuit diagram of part of my device.

In the drawings, 2 indicates what I term the torch unit. This unit comprises a tubular casing i of electrical conducting material. This tube has 5 an annular shoulder 8 near one end for a purpose to be described below. The portion 'I between the shoulder 6 and the end of the tube 4 is used as a handle to manipulate the torch. This same end of the tube is closed by a screw-threaded plug 8. 10

The other end of the tube 4 is closed by a wall I0 having an opening I2 therein vand having a stepped portion I l adjacent the opening. 'Through the opening I2 a wick I3 extends to the interior of the unit, the wick being surround- 15 ed by cotton I 6 or other absorbent packing. This packing is adapted to hold any usual type of volatile lighter uid which may be supplied by removing the plug 8.

In the stepped portion I4 of the end wall of 20 the torch unit a block of insulation I8 is slidably tted. This block of insulation has mounted e thereina short post 20 of conducting material and a longer post 22 also of conducting material. Between these' posts is secured a line resistance 25 wire 24', preferably made of a nickel-chromium alloy. A nickel-chromium wire is capable of being heated to a strong heat.- It has also been found that this alloy resists corrosion by volatile liquids ofthe type ordinarily used as a fuel for the wick.

The tubular portion 4 of the torch unit is extended as at 26 beyond the end wall I0 on the side adjacent the resistance unit. This extension partially surrounds the resistance unit and the. posts 35 which support the resistance wire. It is to be noted that the longer post 22 extends beyond the end of this shielding extension. This shield also protects the llame on the wick from drafts and' partially shields the eyes of the user from the name.

In order to securel the resistance unit to the torch unit a single screw 28 is used. This screw extends through the wall of the torch unit and through the insulation block I8, making contact 45 with the short post 20 as at lill. By this simple expedient the short post is electrically connected to the casing of the torch unit and the resistance unit is secured in place upon the torch. To replace the resistance u nit all that is necessary is 50 to remove the screw 28 and pull out the unit which includes the two posts,` the resistance wire and the block. This unit may then be replaced by another unit of like construction.

When not in use the torch unit is adapted to 55 be housed within the casing 32 which may also contain the source oi' electric energy used in heating the resistance unit'. This housing may take the i'orm of a metallic tube I4, closed'by the wall 38 at one end. The shoulder 8 on the torch unit prevents this removable unit from being inserted too far into the housing tube. At the same time. this shoulder, due to the weight oi the torch unit, will seal the exposed end of the wick from the atmosphere when.the torch is placed within `the housing..

The source of electric` energy preferably is housed within the metallic casing 32 which also includes the housing tube for the torch unit. This metallic casing has a top wall 40 and a bottom wall 42 electrically connected through the medium of side walls 44 and the torch housing tube. The parts are fixed together by the screw 48 which holds the housing tube to the bottom wall and by the shoulder 48 on the outer end of the housing tube which engages the top wall 40.

The top wall contains sheets of insulation B0. At one point the top wall is provided with an aperture 52 through which a contact piece 54 extends. This contact piece is insulated from the top wall by means oithe insulating vpieces 58 and 58, being bent around the piece I6. These insulating pieces hold the contact piece in position and are held in place by wedging the sides oi' piece I6 into the aperture 52.

The bottom wall of the container is provided with apertures 80, 62 and 84. 'I'hese apertures are provided so that dry cell batteries 86, $8 and 10 can be easily inserted in the container.

Fig.,13 shows diagrammatically the connections between the batteries, the contact piece and the casing. As shown, the contact piece is in direct connection with one end of the battery i8. The other end of this battery is connectedy by means of the spring strip 12 to the bottom of battery 68. The top of this second battery is connected .to the top of the other battery 1liv by conducting strip 14, the bottom of this last battery being connected to the casing through the spring strip 18.

'I'he strips contacting the bottoms oi the batteries may be conveniently located by mounting the same on a rigid sheet of insulation 18 which is secured to the bottom wall oi' the container by means of the screw 80. This insulation piece has secured thereto the spring strips 12'and 16 previously noted. The spring strip 1B is positioned to extend from a point adjacent the center of the end of battery 10 to contact with the screw 48 which holds the parts of the casing together. 'I'he strip 12 connects the batteries 6B and 68 when the piece 18 is in position.

The other connection between the batteries is made through the strip 14 which is positioned in the top of thev casing below the insulation 50.

'This strip 14 is carried by a strip oi. insulating material 82, the ends of the strip 14 being bent around the ends of the insulation 82 as at 84 and 86. These ends contact the batteries 6l and 10 when the batteries are inserted in place. The insulating strip is held in place by the side walls of the container.

When it is desired to use the device for igniting a cigarette or cigar the torch unit is withdrawn from the housing, the shield 26 is placed against the top wall of the casing and the post 22 is pushed into contact with the contact piece $4. Electric conduction will then be established as follows:

Starting with the contact piece I4 the circuit Awill flow through the battery il, the, spring strip 12, the battery Il, the strip 14, the battery 10, the spring strip 1i, the screw 4l, the casing 32 including the top' wall 4I, the shield 20, the screw 28, the post 20, the resistance wire 24, the 5 post 22 and contact I4.

'I'he resistance wire will soon become heated to a suiilcient degree to ignite the wick. The unit is then withdrawn from the casing and contact piece and the flame from the wick is l0 used to ignite a cigarette or cigar. It is to be noted that when the wick has been ignited and the unit withdrawn, the resistance unit is no longer heated. It should also be noted that the shield 28, besides shielding the resistance wire l5 and the wick, is used to establish contact in. bringing the resistance unit to igniting heat.

After the torch has been used it is extinguished by replacing it in the tube 34, the shoulder l cutting of! air for combustion and preventing 20 evaporation of the lighter iluid.

Attention is called to the i'act that the batteries 66 and 10 are in upright position while the battery 68 is in an inverted position. When the batteries are thus arranged the proper connec- 86 tions are assured.

Although I have described a preferred form of my invention in detail, my invention is not to be limited except as set forth in the claims. Ob-

viously, other mechanisms might be used in Bof place of the particular, ones described above.

I claim:

1. Lighter structure comprising an electrically conductive reservoir for lighter fluid, a wick communicating with said reservoir, a resistance Wire, means releasably securing said resistance wire to said reservoir adjacent said wick, said securing means also establishing electric connection between said reservoir and one end oi' said resistance wire, a contact member electrically connected to the .other end of said resistance wire, means insulating said contact member from said reservoir, said insulation being in the form oi' a piece on which said4 contact member is secured for insulation, said releasable securing means being in the i'orm oi' an electrically conductive member releasably holding said insulation piece to said reservoir, said reservoir, wick, resistance wire and contact forming a unitary portable structure, and means for :sov

heating said resistance wire to ignite said wick, said heating means comprising a source oi current separate from said unitary structure and stationary contacts mounted adjacent said cur-4 rent source and adapted to be engaged by said i reservoir and said contact piece on said reservoir.

2. Lighter structure comprisingl an electrically conductive reservoir for lighter fluid, a wick communicating with said reservoir, a resistance wire, means releasably securing said resistance wire to said reservoir adjacent said wick, said securing means also establishing electric connection between said reservoir and one end of said resistance wire, a contact member electrically con- 55.'

second electrically conductive post imbedded in said insulation, a resistance element connected at one end to said first post and at the other end to said second post, a protective lshield of electrically conductive material on said reservoir adjacent said recess, said shield partially surrounding and protecting said wick and said resistance when said insulation with its attached members is in place, and electrically conductive means removably secured between said shield and one of said posts, said means also acting to hold said insulation block against sliding move` ment.

4. Lighter structure comprising an electrically conductive reservoir for lighter fluid, a wick communicating with said reservoir, a resistance Wire carried by said reservoir adjacent said wick, a contact member electrically connected to one end of said resistance wire, an insulation piece, said contact member being secured to said insulation piece for electrical insulation from said reservoir, an electrically` conductive member holding said insulation piece to said reservoir, said conductive member electrically connecting the other end of said resistance wire to said reservoir, said reservoir, wick, resistance wire and contact forming a unitary portable structure, a protective shield for said resistance and said wick, said shield comprising an extension of a by said reservoir and said contact piece on said reservoir.

5. Lighter structure comprising an electrically conductive reservoir for lighter fluid, a wick communicating with said reservoir, a resistance wire carried by said reservoir adjacent said wick, a contactmember electrically connected to one end of said resistance wire, an'insulation piece, said contact member being secured to said insulation piece for electrical insulation from said reservoir, an electrically conductive member holding said insulation piece to said reservoir, said conductive member electrically connecting the other end of said resistance wire to said reservoir, said reservoir, wick, resistance wire and contact forming a unitary portable structure, a protective shield fory said resistance and said wick, said shield comprising an extension of a wall of said reservoir partially surrounding said wick and said resistance, and means for heating said resistance wire to ignite said wick, said heating means comprising a source of current separate from said unitary structure, and stationary contacts mounted adjacent to and connected with said current` source and adapted to be engaged by the shield on saidreservoir and said contact piece on said reservoir.

6. Lighter structure comprising an electrically conductive reservoir for lighter uid, alwick communicating with said reservoir, a resistance Wire carried by said reservoir adjacent said wick, a contact post electrically connected to one end of said resistance wire, an insulation block, said contact post being imbedded in said block for electrical insulation from said reservoir, an electrically conductive member holding said insulation block to said reservoir, said conductive mem- 5 ber electrically connecting the other end of said resistance wire to said reservoir, said reservoir, wick, resistance wire and contact forming a unitary portable structure, and means for heating said resistance wire to ignite said wick. said l0 heating means comprising a source of current separate from said unitary structure, an electrically conductive housing for said current source, means connecting one pole of said source to said housing and a contact piece connected to the other pole of said source and insulated from said housing, said contact post on said reservoir being adapted to contact said contact piece on said current source, said reservoir being adapted to contact said conductive housing when said contact members are in engagement.

7. Lighter structure comprising an electrically conductive reservoir for lighter uid. a wick communicating with said reservoir, a resistance wire carried by said reservoir adjacent said wick, a contact member electrically connected to one end of said resistance wire, an insulation piece, said contact member being secured to said insulation piece for electrical insulation from -said reservoir, an electrically conductive member holding said insulation piece to said reservoir. said conductive member electrically connecting the other end of said resistance wire to said reservoir, said reservoir, wick, resistance wire and contact forming a unitary portable structure, and means for heating said resistance wire to ignite said wick, said heating means comprising a source of current separate from said unitary structure, and stationary contacts mounted adjacent to'and connected with said current source and adapted 40 to be engaged by said reservoir and said contact piece on said reservoir, and a housing for said reservoir unit, said housing being located adjacent said current source.

8. An electric cigarette lighter comprising a casing, a source of electric current in said casing, said casing having a well therein, a torch member having a wick at one end and a handle at the other end, said torch member being of such dimensions that when it is inserted into said well with the wick within the well, the handle will remain outside the well, said torch member having thereon adjacent the wick a pair of spaced contact members insulated from one another, an electric resistance connected to said contact members mounted on the torch adjacent the wick for igniting the Wick, said casing being of conductive material, and connected to one pole of the current source, and a contact element mounted on the outside of said casing in insulated relationV thereto and connected to the other pole of said source, the space between said contact element and the conductive portion of the casing being no greater than the space between said contact members of said torch.

`9. An electric cigarette lighter comprising a casing, a source of electric current in said casing, said casing having a-well therein, a torch member having a wick portion at one end and a handle, said torch member being 'adapted to be 70 inserted into said well with the wick portion within the well and the handle outside, saidtorch member having a wall of conducting material and a contact member insulated from the wall of the torch member mounted thereon adjacent 4 t s,oao,142

the wick, said contact member extending beyond the end of the wall of the torch member, an electric resistance connected tosaid contact member and wall and mounted on the torch adjacent the wick for igniting the wick, said casing being of conductive material andv connected to one pole of the current source, and a. contact element mounted on the outside of said casing in insulated relation thereto and connected to the other pole of said source, the space between said contactA contact member and the wall of the torch meml ber.

IRVING FLORMAN. 

